Silksong Not Your Jam? Here Are 4 Recently Released Games That Deserve Your Attention

Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of the biggest releases of the year, and many indie and smaller developers shifted their release dates to avoid being caught in its explosive launch. Not every studio had the chance to move, however, and a few great games were still released around the same time as Hollow Knight: Silksong.

If a challenging Metroidvania adventure isn’t what you’re looking for right now, here are four recently released September games that deserve your attention. Oh, and I promise none of these are $70.

Metal Eden

I’m a sucker for fast-paced shooters, and playing Metal Eden instantly reminded me of DOOM Eternal. That alone should be enough of an endorsement, because the developers of RUINER have delivered an ultra-stylish, gory, and satisfying shooter with gorgeous art direction to boot. Each level bursts with color variety, and at times it felt closer to the original Mirror’s Edge, with its use of bold colors and striking lighting for impressive scene composition.

My only gripe is the writing and the generic cyberpunk characters constantly spouting philosophy in your ear whenever you’re not in combat. Still, it’s a short game with practically no filler, and you’ll come away satisfied once the credits roll thanks to its steady progression, wide arsenal of weapons to experiment with, and a surprisingly well-balanced difficulty curve.

• Launch Price: $40, but 10% off everywhere as a launch discount!
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X, and PS5

Cronos: The New Dawn

If you haven’t read my full review of Cronos: The New Dawn, here’s the quick version. Bloober Team has finally made an original game they can be proud of, and it’s easily their best work yet. Cronos takes inspiration from its survival horror contemporaries but still stands on its own with a haunting world, tense atmosphere, and scares that avoid cheap jump scares. The story, built around a protagonist journeying through time, is both exciting and surprisingly heartfelt, giving the game an emotional weight that lingers.

Combat is deliberate and unforgiving, with aggressive enemies that hit hard and refuse to go down easily, making every encounter feel meaningful. The pacing is tight, the world is dense with detail, and the art direction is consistently striking, giving each location a unique sense of place. And as heavy as it can get, there is charm too, like the fact that every cat you find gets its own database entry. It is a small touch, but it makes Cronos feel all the more memorable.

• Launch Price: $60
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch 2, and PS5

Hell Is Us

I should probably follow my own advice and finally get around to playing this, but such is life, and there are only so many hours in the day. From what I’ve gathered through reviews and impressions from friends playing Hell Is Us, the game delivers on its uncompromising approach to exploration and progression.

There are no quest markers, directions, or even a map to rely on. Instead, the game rewards you for paying attention to the environment, listening closely to dialogue, and actively engaging with the world rather than being spoonfed information. Its puzzles often work on a larger scale, sometimes requiring insight from entirely different areas of the game. Combat exists, too, but it’s not the primary focus, even if it has some complexity. If you’re tired of modern AAA titles holding your hand, Hell Is Us is more than ready to slap it away, even when you need it.

• Launch Price: $50 (PC) / $60 (Consoles)
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S|X, and PS5

Hirogami

Despite being developed by a smaller studio, the developers decided to stick to their original release date, which was a day before the release of Hollow Knight: Silksong. This meant that it’s easily the most overlooked title from the list and one that’s brimming with creativity, plenty of fun ideas, and a runtime that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

You play as Hiro, a fan-wielding master who can take on different animal origami forms to traverse a colorful landscape, solve puzzles involving these origami forms, fight enemies, and save the realm. There is a demo available to try out if you’re a bit

• Launch Price: $30
• Platforms: PC and PS5

That’s four games that came out around the same time as Hollow Knight: Silksong, which at least deserve some consideration. Massive Metroidvanias aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay!

If you’d like to see more helpful guides, news, or features from Prima Games, please consider adding us to your preferred sources.